Filling apparatus



Aug. 23, 1938. R. J. STEWART FILLING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1936 Patented-Aug. 23, 1938 l r UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFIC n alcista FILLING APPARATUS Robert J. Stewart, Baltimore, Mld., assigner to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore. Md., a corporation of New York Application May i6, 1936, Serial No.. BIlJl 12 Claims. (Ci. 236-124) The present invention relates to apparatus for tion tt serving as a valve seat and for which filling containers such as milk bottles and has purpose it has a conical upper surface 25. particular reference to an improved filling valve A hollowopen-ended body 2t of nexible rubber, arrangement for such apparatus. A principal of substantially the grade commonly used in the object of the invention is to provide a valve arsealing ring of the ordinary filling apparatus, has t rangement of simplified and economical cona relatively thick-walled neck portion El and a struction, eiiicient in use, and with few parts relatively thin-walled bulbiform portion it. The readily disassembled for cleaning and readily neck portion is engaged over the reduced porcleanecl. tion I3 of the boss and frictionally engages the lli According to the invention I provide a rubber latter due to its slight distention thereby. The l@ body which serves as a valve element and also free end of the neck portion abuts the shoulder as a sealing element for cooperation with the It. The portion 2li terminates ln an inwardly lip of a container as the latter is. being filled. In directed edge 2t which normally contacts the its ollice of valve element, the rubber body cosurface 25 to form a seal therewith so that flow It operates with a portion of a vent or foam tube through passage I is prevented. it

and improved means are provided for the support ,Portion 28 is constituted by wall portions cirof the said tube. cumferentially bulged or convexed externally and A practical embodiment of the invention is has an internal annular recess or concavity it so shown by way of example in the accompanying that a bottom flange 3l is provided which is drawing in which: externally downwardly tapered at a sllghtangle 20 Figure 1 is a Vertical section through the new t0 the horizontal The flange M iS Somewhat valve arrangement as applied to a tank, the secthicker at the edge 29 thanat its intermediate tion being also taken throughca bottle which is portion. The top wall of recess til is provided in filling position and through a table which supwith a number of grooves 32 disposed vin radial 2t ports the bottle. planes. 25

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the valve ar- Thenormal position oi the parts is shown in rangement on an enlarged scale. Figure 2 and while member mi in this view is Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 vof Figure 2, under some longitudinal compression in order to and maintain an adequate contact between edge 29 3d Figure 4 is a section on line ll--Ii of Figure 2. and surface 2,5, the form of member 2t, when `the 30 Referring to the drawing, reference numeral iii member is unconiinecl, is still substantially the designates a tank which in use may be sealed `same as that shown. at the top by a cover Ill'. A down-spout II com- In the operation of the device, a bottle disprises a flange II which is secured, as by welding, posed on table 3i is elevated so that thelip 35 liti to the bottom of the tank, and a boss portion I2 of the bottle engages flange ti somewhat out- 3.

which has a reduced cylindrical lower extremity Wardly of plug 2t to term a seal therewith. `I3 surmounted by a downwardly facing shoulder Flange 3l is then moved upwardly away from surll. The down-spout has a vertical passage I5 face 25 and *may reach the position shown in which registers with an opening I6 in the tank Figure 1 wherein thetop of the nange contacts 40 bottom. Interiorly the passage I5 is enlarged the top Wall of recess 30. Any vacuum effect beto just above the plane of shoulder I4 to provide an tween the flange and the said top wall is preupwardly faced shoulder il. vented by the vent grooves t2.

Projecting upwardly from the upper portion With flange 3I thus elevated flow taires place of passage I5 is a supporting member I8 for a from the tank to the bottle through passage it vent or foam tube I9. Member I8 comprises a and between edge 29 and surface 25. Since the i5 tubular portion 20 and vertically extending radial lower edge of the flange is in circumferential ribs 2| which rest on the shoulder I'l and center contact with the bottle lip 4a full circumferential the tubular portion 20 relative to the passage I5. seal is obtained so that no leakage can occur at The foam tube I9 is slidably received in the this point, air displaced in the bottle, and foam,

tubular portion 20 and is provided with a cirrising in the tube I9. When the bottle is com- 50 cumferential groove 22 engaged by the legs of a pletely lled the table 34 is lowered and flange spring clip 23. The clip rests on top of member 3| automatically flexes downwardly to bring I8 and supports the tube I9. With the vent tube edge 29 again into sealing contact with surface thus supported, its lower end projects below the 25, the bottle .lip then releasing the flange.

down-spout and is enlarged to form a plug por- Plug 24 is of such size that in a gravity sys- 55 tem it displaces about the amount of liquid which can return from tube I! to the bottle as the latter is lowered. In the use of a balanced pressure system slight vacuum is developed in tank I 0, just sudicient to prevent the dropping of the foam in tube I9.

The thick walls of the neck portion 21 of the rubber body 26 securely grip the boss portion I3 and have a large seating area against shoulder Il so that the body is effectively positioned. The relatively thin walls of portion 28 readily conform to the container lip to form a complete seal, the contacting surfaces extending inwardly of the lip as shown in Figure l due to the increased thickness of the flange at edge 29.

In assembly the rubber body is grasped andr pushed over boss portion I3 to the position shown. Member Il being in position in passage I5, the vent tube I9 is inserted upwardly to position and clip 23 engaged therewith. The device is then ready for operation. Disassembly is, of course, accomplished by the reverse process. On the other hand, the rubber body may be pulled downwardly and over plug 2l and thus removed without removing the vent tube. Cleaning or replacement is thus readily accomplished and when body 26 has been removed portion 28 may be turned inside out for cleaning.

Since in the operation of the apparatus there are no moving metal parts and no seating contact of metal parts, it is evident that there is a minimum of wear. The only part which may wear out in use is the rubber valve and sealing member and this is easily and cheaply replaced. Since the down-spout is not subjected to appreciable wear and hence will never need replacing, it may be welded in position, as described, or even be made integral with the tank bottom thus rendering the apparatus more sanitary due to the elimination of the appreciable joint which is present when the down-spout is detachably secured to the tank bottom.

It willbe understood that the invention is sus- I ceptible of varied embodiment as to form and details of construction and accordingly I do not limit myself except as in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A filling valve comprising a' plug, and a ilexble resilient body having a passage therethrough, said body having at one end a freely inwardly extending annular flange whose inner edge, which defines a portion of said passage, normally contacts said plug to form a seal therewith, said nange flexing when engaged by the lip of a container during a filling operation to free saidedge from the plug to permit flow between said edge and plug, the container lip forming a seal with said flange.

2. A-filling valve comprising a plug, and a flexible resilient hollow open-ended body having a neck `portion at one end and terminating at the other endl in an edge normally in sealing contact with said plug, said body having an internal annular recess inwardly of said edge so that the body portion adjacent said edge is in the form of a freely flexing flange, said flange flexing when engaged by the lip of a container during a filling operation to free said edge from the plug to permit flow between said edge and plug, the container lip forming a seal with said flange.

3. A filling valve comprising a plug, and a flexible resilient hollow open-ended body having a neck portion at one end and terminating at the other end in an edge normally in sealing contact with said plug, said body having an internal annular recess inwardly of said edge so that the bow portion adjacent said edge is in the form of a freely flexing flange, said flange ming thicker at its edge than at its intermediate portion, said flange flexing when engaged by the lip of a container during a filling operation to free said edge from the plug to permit flow between said edge and plug, the container lip forming a seal with said flange.

4. A filling valve comprising a plug, and a flexible resilient hollow open-ended body having a neck portion at one end and terminating at the other end in an edge normally in sealing contact with said plug, said body having an internal annular recess inwardly of said edge so that the body portion adjacent said edge is in the form of a freely flexing flange. said flange flexing when engaged by the lip of a container during a filling operation to free said edge from the plug to permit flow between said edge and plug, the container lip forming a seal with said flange, the wall of said recess opposite said flange being configured to provide a vent so that a vacuum effect is avoided between said wall and flange if the ange is pressed against said wall in the filling operation.

5. A filling valve comprising a plug, and a flexible resilient hollow open ended body having a neck portion at one end and terminating at the other end in an edge normally in sealing contact with said plug, said body being circumferentially bulged between said neck and edge and the bulged portion having an internal annular recess so that the 'body portion adjacent said edge is in the form of a freely flexing flange, said flange flexing when engaged by the lip of a container during a filling operation to free said edge from the plug to permit flow between said edge and plug, the container lip forming a seal.

6. Filling apparatus comprising a tank, a boss projecting below the tank and having a vertical axial through opening registering with an opening in the tank bottom, said boss having a reduced lower end portion surmounted by an annular downwardly faced external shoulder, a vent tube passed through said openings in spaced relation to the ywalls thereof, said vent tube having at its lower end a circumferential enlargement providing a top substantially conical surface, means supporting said vent tube with said enlargement below said boss, and a hollow open-ended flexible resilient body comprising a neck portion surrounding and frictionally gripping the reduced lower end of said boss with the top of said neck portion abutting said shoulder, the walls of said body being circumferentially contracted below said neck portion to an edge normally having sealing contact with said conical surface in spaced relation to the vent tube, the body portion adjacent said edge being in the form of a freely flexing flange extending toward the vent tube, said flange flexing when engaged by the lip of a container during a filling operation to free said edge from said surface to prevent flow between said edge and surface, the container lip forming a seal with said flange,

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the supporting means for the vent tube is .constituted by an internal upwardly faced shoulder in the boss, a vertically ribbed member resting on said upwardly faced shoulder and centering the vent tube relative to the boss opening, and an abutment on the vent tube resting on top of said member.

8. Filling apparatus comprising a tank, a boss projecting below the tank and having a vertical axial through opening registering with an opening in the tank bottom, said boss having a reduced lower end portion surmounted by an annular downwardly faced external shoulder,`a vent tube passed through said openings in spaced relation to the walls thereof, said vent tube having at its lower end a circumferential enlargement providing a top substantially conical surface. means supporting said vent tubeV with said enlargement below said boss, and a hollow openended flexible resilient body comprising a neck portion surrounding and frictionally gripping the reduced lower end of said boss with the top of said neck portion abutting said shoulder, the walls of said body being circumferentially externally convexed and internally 'concaved below said neck portion and terminating in an edge normally in sealing contact with said conical surface in spaced relation to the vent tube, -the body walls adjacent said edge being downwardly tapered at a slight angle to the horizontal and being free-flexing away from said conical surface, the body portion adjacent said edge being in the form of a freely iiexing flange extending toward the vent tube, said flange flexing when engaged by the lip of a container during a filling operation to free said edge from said surface to prevent. flow between said edge and surface, the

container lip forming a seal with said flange.

9. For use as a valve and sealing element in lling apparatus, a flexible resilient hollow openended body having a relatively thick walled neck portion and a relatively thin walled bulbiform portion, the latter terminating in a thin marginal portion defining an edge adapted to cooperate as a valve element with a plug, the body portion outwardly of said edge having a substantially flat external surface adapted to cooperate with a container lip to form a seal with the top'of the latter during a filling operation and said body portion being axially collapsible as a result of its sealing contact with the container lip whereby said edge is movable away from said plug.

10. Filling apparatus comprising a tank and a down spout in communication with the tank, said spout having interiorly an upwardly faced shoulder, a tubular member having vertical external ribs supported on said shoulder, a vent tube passing through said down spout and tubular member, an abutment secured to the vent tube and resting on top of said tubular member, and valve means for controlling flow through said down spout.

11. A sealing member comprising a hollow open-ended body of freely flexing resilient material, said body having an internal annular enlargement which has opposed internal end surfaces, at least one of said surfaces being configured to provide a vent so as to obviate the vacuum effect which might otherwise occur upon axial collapse of said body to such an extent in use as to bring said surfaces together.

12. A filling valve comprising a plug, and a flexible resilient hollow open-ended body having a neck portion at one end and terminating at the other end in an edge normally in sealing contact with said plug, said body having an internal annular recess inwardly of said edge so that the body portion adjacent said edge is in the form of a freely flexing flange, said flange 'flexing when engaged by the lip of a container during a filling operation to free said edge from the plug to permit flow between said edge and plug, the container lip forming a seal with said flange, said recess having opposed internal end surfaces of which at least one is configured to provide a vent so as to obviate the vacuum effect which might otherwise occur upon axial collapse of said body to such an extent in use as to bring said surfaces together.

ROBERT J. STEWART. 

